ALTRINCHAM 4, MAIDENHEAD UNITED 0
Alex Newby’s first-half hat-trick helped Altrincham defeat Maidenhead United and maintain their promotion push in Vanarama National League.
The experienced striker’s treble took him into double figures for the season while there was also a goal for top scorer Regan Linney against the relegation-threatened Magpies.
The Robins produced a four-goal showing in the opening period as they had the game won by the break as they climbed back into the top 10 and are only one point adrift of the play-off places.
It was a disappointing night for former West Ham and England player Alan Devonshire’s bottom four side, though they created numerous chances.
The difference was that Alty were ruthless in front of goal in the opening period but had Maidenhead had a cutting edge it might well have been a much closer contest.
Alty, beaten only once at Moss Lane in the league, made a perfect start as Newby broke the deadlock in the eighth minute when he was left unmarked in front of goal to convert a right-wing cross.
Maidenhead left back Tyrese Dyce almost immediately fired agonisingly wide and the visitors had other openings, but either failed to hit the target or get on the end of inviting balls into the box.
How they paid as Alty doubled their lead in the 27th minute when Tom Crawford cut the ball back from the right for Newby to find the net with a shot which squirmed past keeper Craig Ross.
It was 3-0 just after the half hour when Linney, subject of considerable transfer interest, showed precisely why he is such a coveted player.
Linney broke down the left and cut into the box close to the by-line only to be brought down by Ross. He picked himself up to fire home his 16th goal of the season.
And in the last minute of the half, Linney provided the assist for Alty’s fourth goal. He broke yet again down the left and served up the chance on a platter for Newby’s third and 10th of the season, a simple tap in from his low cross.
The match was over as a contest with the second half providing little further excitement.
Early on, Robins’ substitute Joe Nuttall, who came on for the restart, had a chance for a fifth but his well-directed header was cleared off the line.
Alty never looked like adding further goals while Maidenhead occasionally threatened. Their best chance was a 25-yard drive from substitute Sam Barratt which brought a decent save from keeper Ethan Ross who had little to do overall for his clean sheet.